Since July, 231 students have finished the GED at Alamance Community College, which is almost as many people as took the test in all of 2011.

“We have seen a big increase in students trying to finish,” said Claire Dixon, director of the ACC literacy program.

Americans who passed part, but not all, of the GED test are rushing to finish the high school equivalency exam before a new version rolls out in January and their previous scores are wiped out. About 1 million people could be affected nationwide.

With the new version, test takers must use a computer instead of paper and pencil. The test itself will be more rigorous and cost more — at $120, the price in some states will be significantly higher than previous versions.

Last month, Alamance Community College started enrolling new GED students in preparatory classes for the new test and getting current students done before the year is out.

The community college is holding four testing sessions every weekday and two on Saturdays, Dixon said.

Test takers have been warned for more than a year about the approaching deadline of Dec. 31.

Nicole Chestang, executive vice president at GED Testing Service, said the rush was expected. In 2001, the year before the last upgrade, there was a 30 percent increase in test-takers, most toward the end of the year, she said.

Chestang advised people to register for the exam now, even if they don’t take it until later in November or December.

Some critics have challenged the price increases and the mandate that test-takers use a computer — issues that affect many people living in poverty.

It could also complicate things for the N.C. Community College System. Each of the 58 colleges in the system has to get computers for the new computer-based GED, and many have, including ACC.

The local college is still waiting, however, for some approvals from the testing company, Pearson Vue Testing.

“Here, we are on track to be ready,” Dixon said. “I hope we will be up and running in January.”

This is the first upgrade since for-profit Pearson Vue Testing acquired a joint ownership interest in the GED Testing Service. For 70 years, GED Testing Service has been run by the nonprofit American Council on Education.

GED exam officials have said the changes will modernize the test and align it with new college and career-ready standards adopted in a majority of states. They say basic computer skills are needed in a modern workplace — even to apply for jobs at places like retail stores and fast-food chains. On a recent test given to adults worldwide of workplace skills including math, reading and problem-solving using technology, American adults scored below the international average.

The test also will allow people to receive their scores the same day, rather than having to wait a month or more.

Page 2 of 2 - Frustrated with the changes, some states have opted instead to begin using other high school equivalency exams.

Dixon said ACC offers Adult High School, which is now available online. Adult High School is not only free, Dixon said, but often will accept students’ old credits from high school. The diploma is from both ACC and the Alamance-Burlington School System.

Dixon said students are signing up for the new test at ACC.

There are some advantages to the change, she said. While the college has had to buy new equipment for the new test, it will no longer have to pay the testing company for the testing books, so it will save money in the long run.

The new test also will allow students to sign up for the test themselves online and get their results back much faster.

“I think it will be a much easier process for students and staff,” Dixon said.